Luxembourg, 11/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - In Luxembourg on Monday, the Council of the EU adopted a common position confirming and tightening up sanctions on Burma, starting today. By failing to release Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners, and continuing to apply pressure on the League for Democracy, refusing to allow genuinely open debate at the National Convention, the military junta has failed to meet the EU's conditions (see Europe of 7 September), so the Council decided to add further people to the EU visa ban, adding 'serving members of the military of rank of Brigadier-General and above and members of their family'; ban the supply of loans to or the acquisition of shares in Burmese companies; and to ban non-humanitarian aid and development programmes, with the exception of programmes concerning human rights, democracy, health, education, poverty alleviation and protection of the environment. The EU also confirms the freezing of assets of individuals connected with the Rangoon regime.